6 Tips For a Successful Home Building Trade Partner Council

Want a better working relationship with your trades? Starting a trade partner council is a great first step

January 01, 2009

By Felicia Oliver, Senior Editor

A trade partner council can do a lot to foster a mutually beneficial relationship with your trades. For tips on how to run an effective council, we spoke to Chip Merlin, vice president of operations for K. Hovnanian in Chantilly, Va.; K. Hovnanian's trade partner council president at this location, David Scott, vice president of sales for Fireside Hearth and Homes, Manassas, Va.; and Bryan Binney, vice president of operations for Shea Homes San Diego. These National Housing Quality Award winners have great trade partner councils, and their examples are worth following.

1. Be open to partnering. “It's key to have a champion both on the builder side and the trade partner side,” says Merlin.

2. Choose members wisely. Consider:

Diversity — Trades who represent all the major stages of construction

Quality — Trades who set a high bar for other trades who will eventually join

Leadership — They are professional and successful; can lead by example; and can be energetic and engaged in their participation.

Uniqueness — The best electrician is a member instead of three “OK” electricians.

3. Develop a charter outlining the council's goals. This helps members understand the commitment. “This isn't a social organization,” says Scott. “It's a heavy lifting group.”

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